MATCH REPORT
Date : 27th August 2022
Opposition : Peebles Rovers
Venue : Away
Scorers : Regan Graham, Drew Cummings, Rhys Bloomfield
Booked : Jack Forster
Sent Off : None
TRFC Man of the Match : Stevie Mason
Attendance : 67
Team Lineup :
Stevie Mason
Joao Vieira
Rhys Dixon
Jack Forster
Craig Heath
Craig Colquhoun
Rhys Bloomfield
Drew Cummings
Regan Graham
Melvin Sebastian
Michael Robinson
Subs :
Kyle Wood on for Craig Colquhoun 76 mins
Jay Atkinson on for Michael Robinson 76 mins
Programme Cover :
To follow
Match Report :
Both sides received a first round bye but it was Tweedmouth who made it through to the third round of the Alex Jack Cup with this victory in the Whitestone Park sunshine. A crucial moment came at the start of the second half when Rangers’ keeper Stephen Mason saved a second penalty which could have put Rovers level again.
FIRST HALF
Tweedmouth opened with a series of attacks, the endings of none of which seriously troubled Cameron Hanratty. It was left to Regan Graham to open the scoring in the 13th minute. With Hanratty a little off his line, Rangers’ skipper lobbed the ball over the keeper from the edge of the box.
Jack Forster’s clearance saved a certain equaliser but one was forthcoming from the penalty spot only three minutes after Graham’s goal. Joao Vieira fouled Michael Joyce within the boundary of the area leaving Kyle Kivlichan to send Mason the wrong way.
On two occasions Robbie Renwick couldn’t reach dangerous crosses but, as an even first half drew to a close, his team seemed to be gaining the upper hand. Mason stopped a shot with his foot whilst Michael Robertson, impressive himself in defence for Peebles, was only halted by Forster’s impeccable tackle.
The ball was soon going in the other direction with Craig Colquhoun racing away on the right before passing to Drew Cummings coming through the middle. He rounded off the move in style with Rangers’ second goal.
With two minutes left of part one, the visitors were still not sure of a half time lead especially when Rovers were awarded a free kick, Paul Dickson just wide from 20 yards out.
SECOND HALF
Two minutes after the break, Cummings was penalised for a high boot as he challenged for the ball. This time, Mason guessed correctly, diving to stop Kivlichan again making it all square from the spot.
Rhys Bloomfield beat the cover to run in to meet Colquhoun’s 52nd minute free kick, heading it over the bar, but two thirds of the second half pressure came from the home side. Only frantic defence prevented them scoring again as Joyce got in another cross from the left.
Mason went down to turn away Kivlichan’s ground level drive and there was relief when twice, Grant Doyle was off course with attempted big hits.
Peebles though remained vulnerable to Rangers’ counters keeping the ball on the deck. Michael Robinson was inches away from stretching the margin after Bloomfield and Cummings went forward at pace. It was finally increased with five minutes left. Graham won the ball inside the home half and played it on to Bloomfield. Facing a one on one with Hanratty, he made sure with a high shot into the net. Melvin Sebastian looked to cement the win with a further goal but his bid from the edge of the area was too high.
SUMMARY
A hard earned but ultimately deserved success. With fewer subs than Peebles on a hot afternoon, the Tweedmouth boys did well to keep going so strongly right to the end.
Pictures :
No photographer present.